Blair gives Brussels post to Mandelson

By George Jones

12:01AM BST 23 Jul 2004

Peter Mandelson will today be named as Britain's next European commissioner after days of "agonising" over ending his domestic political career.

Government sources confirmed last night that Tony Blair had offered the position to Mr Mandelson, who was twice sacked from the Cabinet. Whitehall officials have been waiting since Tuesday to sign the necessary papers enabling him to step down as an MP.

The appointment will be announced this morning after Downing Street said that there would not be a government reshuffle.

Mr Mandelson had hoped to return to the Cabinet but that was vetoed by Mr Blair. Going to Brussels means he will be turning his back on politics in Britain for at least five years.

The appointment is likely to be controversial and Mr Blair is braced for it to be criticised as "cronyism".

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Mr Mandelson is a long-standing friend and one of the architects of New Labour, but is regarded as one of the most prominent pro-Europeans in the party. He hopes to be offered a senior role in Brussels by Jose Durao Barroso, who was confirmed yesterday as the new president of the European Commission.

Mr Blair has overridden the objections of number of ministers to offer Mr Mandelson the European post, which carries a salary of £144,000 a year plus generous allowances.

He will be replacing two British commissioners, Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, and Chris Patten, former Tory Party chairman, who are retiring. As a result of the enlargement of the EU to 25 member states, member states have only one commissioner.

Yesterday in the Commons John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, confirmed that Mr Blair had delayed a Cabinet reshuffle, possibly until Parliament returns in September. Taunted by Tory MPs, Mr Prescott shouted: "There is no reshuffle."